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Chapter 22: Problem 43

Some farmers believe that lightning helps produce a better crop. What is the scientific basis for this belief?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Lightning converts atmospheric nitrogen into a form that is usable by plants. This process, called nitrogen fixation, as a result, helps fertilize the soil, promoting better crop growth.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding Nitrogen

Nitrogen is an essential nutrient for plants. It is a critical component of amino acids, proteins, and DNA, which are necessary for plant growth and reproduction. However, the nitrogen that is abundant in the atmosphere is in a form that plants cannot use.
02

Role of Lightning

When lightning strikes, it superheats the air around it, breaking the atmospheric nitrogen molecules (N2) into individual nitrogen atoms. These atoms quickly react with the oxygen in the atmosphere to form nitrogen oxides (NOx), which are soluble in water and can be easily taken up by plants.
03

Nitrogen Fixation

The process of nitrogen getting converted into a form that plants can use is called nitrogen fixation. Lightning is a natural method of nitrogen fixation. The nitrogen oxides formed by lightning get dissolved in rain, forming nitrates, which are carried to the ground with the rainwater. That's why some farmers believe lightning helps produce a better crop as it aids in the natural fertilization of the soil.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

As mentioned in Chapter 3 , ammonium nitrate is the most important nitrogen- containing fertilizer in the world. Given only air and water as starting materials and any equipment and catalyst at your disposal, describe how you would prepare ammonium nitrate. State conditions under which you can increase the yield in each step.

Write a balanced equation for each of the following processes: (a) On heating, ammonium nitrate produces nitrous oxide. (b) On heating, potassium nitrate produces potassium nitrite and oxygen gas. (c) On heating, lead nitrate produces lead(II) oxide, nitrogen dioxide \(\left(\mathrm{NO}_{2}\right),\) and oxygen gas.

Describe two reactions in which sulfuric acid acts as an oxidizing agent.

Write balanced equations for the preparation of sodium nitrite by heating (a) sodium nitrate, (b) sodium nitrate with carbon.

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